Should the CDC Reveal the Source of Recent Salmonella Outbreaks?

By Marion Nestle

The report on outbreaks last winter identified the source as 'Mexican-style fast food Restaurant Chain A,' but shouldn't we be told more?

Food Safety News is always an invaluable source of information about the science and politics of food safety, but recent items are more than enough reason to subscribe immediately.

Start with Dan Flynn's astonishing account of his repeated attempts to discover the name of the restaurant chain responsible for Salmonella outbreaks in southern states last winter.

After calling health officials in several states where cases occurred, he says:

The surprise is not so much that public health officials do not want to name the restaurant chain involved, but that no one wants to talk about the outbreak at all.... As we search for more information about this outbreak, we will do our best to follow the CDC's own advice and provide timely and accurate information for the public.

When public health officials make mistakes in foodborne outbreaks, the industry suffers and the political fallout is extreme.... We should not forget that local officials are closely tied to their communities in many ways. Local health departments rely on revenue generated from the local food service industry. After many years, bonds form between local public health agencies and industry, naturally, and out of necessity.

But, he says:

In the end, honesty is the best policy during any outbreak of disease. When the investigator is guided by a careful analysis of data, an honest presentation of the facts and truthful explanation is all we can ask for.... The public understands and forgives a mistake when it occurs out an abundance of caution to protect them, but there is no forgiveness for a failure to inform them and they suffer as a result. The failure of CDC to name names is preventing the redress that victims rightfully have for damages and also reflects the power industry has to keep our investigators silent.

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